Pacific Rim Institute, Washington

This land has passed through many families but was first "managed" by Salish Indians who burned the prairie and harvested native plants for food, medicine, clothing, charms and more for nearly Read more...

This land has passed through many families but was first "managed" by Salish Indians who burned the prairie and harvested native plants for food, medicine, clothing, charms and more for nearly 10,000 years. When European settlers arrived in the 1850s burning all but ceased and that, along with the introduction of many new exotic species of crop plants and weeds, the degradation of the landscape began. Over time our site was used to graze sheep and then raise pheasants (from 1946-1999). It was slated for housing development and several citizens rose up and prevented that from happening. Now the Pacific Rim Institute, a private nonprofit organization is the primary steward of this precious jewel of central Whidbey and the Pacific Northwest. We have a five acre remnant prairie with over 60 species of native plants - critical to the restoration of degraded lands throughout the Salish Sea region.